satanorsanta:Hollande pointed out that, in America, "as you'd imagine, if a socialist supported one of these candidates, it would cost him dear," adding "I suppose I should endorse Mitt Romney."

He did it for the LOLS

I hope this is the beginning of an awesome trend where world leaders ironically endorse Romney to troll the Republican party. I'm looking at you Raul Castro, Hu Jintao. Although China might actually prefer Romney.

Mrtraveler01:No American politician has seriously considered this. But nice try.

While I think it's unlikely to happen in the modern age, until 1970 the top tax rate was above 75% more often than not. And that's just income tax, not including other forms of taxation like property taxes.

whidbey:Hollande, who recently unveiled his controversial plan for a 75% income tax rate on people making over the equivalent of $1.3 million per year,

Oh fark yes

I'm for raising taxes on the very wealthy, but that's insane. I'd cap any top tax rate at 49%.

But that's just me.

Of course, we would have to go that far at all if we just treated all income as 'regular' income and set rates back to Clinton era rates starting in, probably 2014 (ie. once the economy is on stronger footing).

theknuckler_33:whidbey: Hollande, who recently unveiled his controversial plan for a 75% income tax rate on people making over the equivalent of $1.3 million per year,

Oh fark yes

I'm for raising taxes on the very wealthy, but that's insane. I'd cap any top tax rate at 49%.

But that's just me.

Of course, we would have to go that far at all if we just treated all income as 'regular' income and set rates back to Clinton era rates starting in, probably 2014 (ie. once the economy is on stronger footing).

See, that's the thing.

One reason the hyperrich pay so little in taxes is, counterintuitively, because they pay such a high rate of taxes in the first place. High rates means the person wants to lower the amount being taxed at that rate, leading to tax shelters, tax attorneys, slick accountants who can disappear a paycheck faster than an Iraqi terrorist...and tax law loopholes like "well, it isn't income if it was obtained by X;" and other dodges. Sure, someone making $10 million a year can probably withstand a 40% tax better than someone making $10,000 a year can withstand a 5% tax; but then again, doing so means that the rich person will find any means, reasonable or otherwise, to protect some of his income from that 40%. Meanwhile, the poor person has to rely on tax breaks and refunds to stay on an even footing.

Gyrfalcon:theknuckler_33: whidbey: Hollande, who recently unveiled his controversial plan for a 75% income tax rate on people making over the equivalent of $1.3 million per year,

Oh fark yes

I'm for raising taxes on the very wealthy, but that's insane. I'd cap any top tax rate at 49%.

But that's just me.

Of course, we would have to go that far at all if we just treated all income as 'regular' income and set rates back to Clinton era rates starting in, probably 2014 (ie. once the economy is on stronger footing).

See, that's the thing.

One reason the hyperrich pay so little in taxes is, counterintuitively, because they pay such a high rate of taxes in the first place. High rates means the person wants to lower the amount being taxed at that rate, leading to tax shelters, tax attorneys, slick accountants who can disappear a paycheck faster than an Iraqi terrorist...and tax law loopholes like "well, it isn't income if it was obtained by X;" and other dodges. Sure, someone making $10 million a year can probably withstand a 40% tax better than someone making $10,000 a year can withstand a 5% tax; but then again, doing so means that the rich person will find any means, reasonable or otherwise, to protect some of his income from that 40%. Meanwhile, the poor person has to rely on tax breaks and refunds to stay on an even footing.

Our tax code is a mess.

Are you pretending that rich people wouldn't do that anyway? If their tax rate was 15% they'd still use every loop-hole and tax dodge that they can find.

BTW, this thread marks the first troll thread for Saturday. So for anyone keeping note, as I amuse myself with, the troll shift starts at around 3 PM EST on weekends. I'm sure there will be no increased coincidental appearance of trolls.

/Republicans don't really care about the French vote//Unless they're voting for a n**ger.